Bouquets to Art 2011 - Lobby

Since its inception 27 years ago, I have attend most of Bouquets to Art exhibits, a highly-celebrated spring ritual hosted by the Fine Arts Museums of  San Francisco. As impossible as it was to believe, the 150 floral artists who were invited to create a floral arrangement to complement the artwork in the M. H. De Young Museum found a way to step it up another notch this year. Click the "Categories" tab to view the fantastic entries of previous years' Bouquets to Arts.

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Just inside the main entrance hangs the creation of Dominque Pfahl of Floreal, representational of Andy Goldsworthy's environmental art of found objects. The organic frame serves to hold the lenses through which one can view Goldsworthy's "Drawn Stone" sculptures in the entry courtyard. Previously named "Faultline", the installation is a creative expression of the seismic network that runs through California.

This is a good time to pause and remember the victims Japan's earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown. My thoughts and prayers go to all those who are dealing with the aftermath of the disasters. If you haven't already made a donation to the relief efforts to aid the victims, I invite you to donate to Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans Frontieres), The Salvation Army, or an organization of your choice.

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Sogetsu Ikebana artist Katsuko Thielke of Hunter-Lee Flowers created an astounding arrangement...

...to accompany Raúl Anguiano's "Untitled. (Seated Girl Holding an Apple)".

Untitled. (Seated Girl Holding an Apple), 1943 by Raúl Anguiano.
Image: Maulleigh at Flickr.

The pure white phaleonopsis orchids were the perfect choice to represent the white dress and the innocence of the girl. while the chrysanthems, hypericum berries, and cymbydium orchids provided the apple green element.  My favorite elements of this arrangement, though, are the strands of bear grass intricately woven into braids, suggesting the inferred braid of the girl's hair...

... and the palm fronds whose profiles were completely altered by braiding the ends.

If I were to give out awards, I would have to give Thielke the Best Workmanship prize.

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Urban Chateau's entry provided a great sneak peek for the upcoming Balenciaga and Spain Exhibition at the museum. 

This floral sculpture of black satin with red and white roses shouts both Balenciaga and Spain.

Cristobal Balenciaga

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Paige Benjamin, of Passiflora Designs, created a beautiful modern upright tapestry of colors and textures:

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Hats off and thank you to Joy Kuhn and Patty Reed and other members of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Flower Committee for tirelessly volunteering every month to provide fresh flowers for the lobby, executive offices, and the museum's 13 bathrooms. 

Stay tuned for more Bouquets to Art 2011 post in the near future.